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What God Says and Does

In the study of Acts 19:8-20, Alistair Begg leads us through Paul’s return visit to Ephesus, where he boldly proclaimed the Gospel and argued persuasively regarding the Kingdom of God. From Paul’s example, we learn the importance of being God-centered and God-glorifying when witnessing to others regarding the Good News of salvation and the power of the cross of Christ.

8And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.9But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.310This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

The Sons of Sceva

11And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,12so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.13Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”14Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.15But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”16And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all4 of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.17And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.18Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.19And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.20So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

Series: For the Sake of the Gospel, Volume 1

Other messages in: For the Sake of the Gospel, Volume 1

Are you passionate about sharing the Gospel? How willing are you to sacrifice and take risks so that unbelievers may become followers of Jesus, and believers may become better equipped to share the Good News of salvation?

In Volume 1 of this series of messages from Alistair Begg, we follow the Apostle Paul from Corinth to Caesarea on his final missionary trek. For the sake of the Gospel, Paul endured trials of every kind, boldly proclaiming the Good News and glorifying God even to those who doggedly persecuted him. Throughout his journey, we see evidence of God’s grace, providential protection, and provision. God’s guidance and care underpinned Paul’s confidence and enabled him to live out the faith he proclaimed.

It’s easy to believe God’s promises in the days of calm, but trusting Him in the midst of life’s storms is difficult, and our response to trials may either advance or impede the spread of the Gospel.

Other messages in: For the Sake of the Gospel, Volume 2

Are you passionate about sharing the Gospel? How willing are you to sacrifice and take risks so that unbelievers may become followers of Jesus, and believers may become better equipped to share the Good News of salvation?

In Volume 2 of For the Sake of the Gospel, it quickly becomes evident that nothing would silence the Apostle Paul from “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ”— not a trial before royalty, a hurricane-force storm at sea, a shipwreck, a poisonous snake bite, chains, or prolonged wrongful imprisonment. Paul was zealous to make all his days and all his deeds count for the Gospel. Alistair Begg uses Paul’s dramatic journey from Caesarea to Rome to illustrate God’s faithfulness and to encourage us to see our circumstances as opportunities to proclaim the Good News.

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Truth For Life is the teaching ministry of Alistair Begg committed to teaching the Bible with clarity and relevance so that unbelievers will be converted, believers will be established, and local churches will be strengthened.